Ireland's president makes an unprecedented visit to England

Irish President Michael D. Higgins arrived Monday in London, a day before the official start of a four-day state visit to the British capital, a first for a head of state of Ireland.

This event comes three years after the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the Republic of Ireland, which completed the process of normalization of relations between the two countries.

Higgins, aged 72, a poet and former Minister of Culture, was received Monday at London's Heathrow airport by a representative of the Queen.

The visit to the state, set to run until Friday, will officially begin on Tuesday. The Irish President will address on Tuesday afternoon to the two Houses of the British Parlament, and will then have an organized dinner with the Queen at Windsor Castle in the presence of a former official of the IRA, Martin McGuinness.

The invitation adressed to Higgins, age 63, who for 30 years fought against the British rule, is very symbolic.

The Queen made ​​a historic visit in 2011 in Dublin, the first visit by a British sovereign since the Irish independence in 1922.

"We live a very exciting time in history, our states maintaining, after the visit of Her Majesty in Ireland, a very good relationship," said Michael D. Higgins, before leaving Ireland.